Much of the safety and effectiveness of cold laser therapy lies in its ability to trigger the body to heal itself. Penetrating into targeted tissue, laser light stimulates mitochondria in target cells to produce additional ATP, which fuels cell repair and regeneration. The laser simply jumpstarts the healing process and since the laser used operates within a specific wavelength range that is non thermal (the "therapeutic window"), there is no risk of tissue damage or other complications.
A wide variety of studies on the safety and effectiveness of cold laser therapy have been conducted by medical professionals from across the globe. Theralase also regularly conducts research and clinical trials to support the use of and discover new applications for laser technology.
Theralase therapeutic laser treatments provide patients with a safe, effective and painless therapy that uses the body's own natural healing systems to relieve pain, increase joint mobility, increase tissue integrity and promote cell regeneration.
Theralase lasers offer treatment for acute and chronic pain conditions. Our lasers help you regain the active and healthy lifestyle you yearn for by utilizing the power of light energy.
Over 3,000 clinical studies worldwide have proven the success of therapeutic lasers in the healing of neural muscular-skeletal conditions. Theralase has performed a blinded randomized control study on chronic knee pain proving the clinical efficacy of Theralase therapeutic laser technology and achieving FDA 510(k) approval for chronic knee pain.
Laser will help virtually any inflammatory or degenerative joint or musculo-skeletal condition. This includes: Tendinitis/strains, Arthritis, Tennis/Golfers elbow, Intercostal pain, Hip pain, Knee pain, Ankle sprain, Plantar Fasciitis, Whiplash, Achilles Tendinitis, Sciatica, Carpal Tunnel, Low Back Pain, Rotator Cuff, Shoulder pain, Neck pain/arthritis, Migraine Headaches, etc.
What are the contra-indications?
Eyes
Lasers are potentially harmful if viewed directly. Patient, practitioner and observers should were Theralase safety glasses when the laser is in use.
Relative contraindications / precautions
Cancer
Do not use LLLT over any known malignant lesions. A patient should be cancer free for 5 years prior to laser therapy because laser will stimulate cellular activity.
Pregnancy
There is no evidence of harm to a an unborn baby however there are no safety tests either, so for medico legal reasons we recommend not treating directly over the developing fetus
Thyroid
Although there is no evidence of harm, laser treatment directly over the thyroid should be avoided as it may stimulate or inhibit some thyroid activity
Tattoo
Treatment over a tattoo with higher irradiance laser may cause pain as the dye absorbs the laser energy and gets hot. If treatment is painful remove treatment probe from contact and treat ~15mm from surface of skin.
Corticosteroid Injections or Anti-inflammatory Medication
Laser treatment can cause a dermal rash when combined with anti-inflammatory medication. It is recommended that a two week “wash” period be taken following corticosteroid injection of the site to be treated.
Frequently Asked Questions
- It will accelerate healing by increasing production of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)
- It reduces inflammation by increasing nitric oxide levels by 700%
- It reduces pain by rebalancing the sodium/potassium pump
- Does the Theralase burn?
- Will laser relieve my pain?
- Will it help chronic knee pain due to osteoarthritis?
Cellular Pathway Activation
Theralase utilizes dual wavelength super pulsing technology (660 nm visible red laser diodes and 905 nm super-pulsed near infrared laser diodes) to be the only laser known to activate all three known cellular pathways simultaneously. Light from laser penetrates into tissue, where light energy is converted into chemical or physical energy.
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) Pathway
Nitric Oxide (NO) Pathway
Lipid Absorption Pathway
Accelerates Healing
630 to 670 nm – Visible Red Light peaking at 660 nm
Cells that lack energy are unable to participate in the healing process. Light energy is delivered to injured cells which in turn absorbs the light and converts it into food energy and uses it to replenish themselves. Once cells are fully recharged they are able to replicate and divide, and build upon one another to heal the injured area. Theralase stimulates the mitochondria of the cell to produce more ATP (energy) thus repairing damaged tissue through the phosphorylation of glucose to ATP via the Kreb's Cycle and Electron Transport Chain. Photons with wavelengths between 630nm - 670nm increase the speed at which the mitochondria can absorb glucose and convert it into ATP. Theralase uses 660 nm visible red laser light, which is at the peak excitation of cytochrome C oxidase (a critical cytochrome in the Electron Transport Chain used in the phosphorylation of glucose into ATP)
Decreases Inflammation
Activated By 905 nm, Near Infrared Red Light
When tissue injury occurs, the inflammatory process is initiated to immobilize the area to prevent further damage, providing us with an indication that the body is hurt. This process is usually associated with pain caused by inflammation pressuring nerve endings. In order to reabsorb this interstitial fluid and decrease inflammation in the region, the body produces nitric oxide (NO), which has been proven to relax the lymphatic system causing it to become more porous allowing the reabsorption process to occur. This process not only reduces inflammation but causes temporary vasodilation (increased diameter of capillaries) bringing much needed oxygen, fuel molecules and other metabolites to the injured tissue aiding in their natural healing.
Removes Pain
Peak Activation By 905 nm, Near Infrared Red Light
Pain results when a stimulus causes action potentials to rapidly propagate along a nerve cell. These actions potentials are primarily due to an expulsion of positively charged sodium ions (Na+) and an influx of potassium (K+) ions into the nerve cell altering the electrical potential across the membrane. The peak absorption of lipids is in the 905 nm to 910 nm range. Laser light is thus directly absorbed by receptors within the bi-lipid cellular membrane of nerve cells. Once absorbed, the laser light will increase the porosity of the cellular membrane allowing for a reabsorption of sodium ions and expulsion of potassium ions across the cellular membrane rebalancing the sodium-potassium pump and removing the pain signal at source.
Pain is believed to originate from an ionic differentiation of potassium (K+) and sodium (Na+) ions across a cellular membrane. Theralase 905 nm super-pulsed laser technology increases cellular membrane permeability and causes a reabsorption of sodium and expulsion of potassium molecules, removing the gradient and thus the pain signal at source.
Anti-Inflammation
LLLT has an anti-oedemic effect, as it causes vasodilation, but also because it activates the lymphatic drainage system to drain interstitial fluid (drains swollen areas).
Anti-Pain (Analgesic)
As a result of reduced inflammation, there is less oedema and therefore less pain. LLLT stimulates vasodilation and lymphatic drainage, which increases the reabsorption of pain-causing products. LLLT delivers 905 nm super-pulsed infrared wavelength light, which is absorbed by the bi-lipid layer comprising the cellular membrane and thus regulates the nerve cell's sodium-potassium pump. This pump maintains the potential across the membrane of a nerve cell, which leads to pain transmission signals. By regulating the pump, transmission of pain signals from the area can be eliminated.
Who Performs Treatment?
Certified Laser Technologists are able to treat patients with low-level laser therapy.
Is It Covered By Insurance?
Since delivered by our chiropractors and naturopath, laser therapy is billed under massage therapy, chiropractic or naturopathic.
Effective and Affordable
At Chinook Laser Health it is important that treatment not only be effective but affordable.
Assessment $125.00
One Area $60.00
One Area Seniors $50.00
Treatments may include a combination of joint mobilization, massage and
soft tissue work, education, exercise therapy plus Laser Therapy..
Typical Treatment Recommendations
Acute Conditions (less than 8 weeks duration) can usually be successfully treated in 5-7 visits over a 2 week period
Subacute Conditions (8-12 weeks duration) will usually take 10-12 visits over 4 weeks
Chronic Conditions (longer than 12 weeks duration) can take 14-20 visits over 6+ weeks
*We direct bill a number of insurance companies. Most of our health services are covered in whole or part by extended health insurance plans.
